Hearing Officer Services

The Housing Authority of Washington County (HAWC), within Oregon's Department of Housing Services, is requesting proposals for Hearing Officer services on an as-needed basis, with proposals due September 30, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. and questions due September 28, 2026. Both qualified individuals and firms are eligible.

The Hearing Officer will conduct fair and impartial hearings, reviews, grievances, and appeals for applicants, participants, tenants, and residents across HAWC and DHS programs, including Public Housing grievances and appeals, Housing Choice Voucher program terminations and denials, Special Purpose Voucher programs, Section 504 reasonable accommodation denials, and civil rights complaints. The role requires researching applicable laws, federal requirements, HUD regulations, and current policies; analyzing evidence; maintaining confidentiality; and providing written decisions within ten business days of each hearing.

Minimum qualifications include experience conducting administrative hearings or similar adjudicative processes, familiarity with HUD regulations and housing programs, strong analytical and communication skills, ability to maintain impartiality and confidentiality, and disclosure of any conflicts of interest. The estimated contract value is approximately $50,000, though actual costs vary based on service requirements. Compensation is determined by the selected contractor's proposed fee structure, which must include hourly rates and other applicable charges. The initial contract term is two years with an option to renew for up to five additional years, not to exceed five years total.

Proposals must not exceed five pages and include a cover letter, qualifications description, experience with interpreting laws and regulations, approach to impartiality and confidentiality, fee structure and billing practices, availability, expected turnaround time for written decisions, at least two professional references, and disclosure of conflicts of interest. Submissions are made electronically through the County's procurement portal. The County reserves the right to conduct interviews with top-scoring proposers, check references, reject any or all proposals, and negotiate final contract terms.